Categorized as a genetic disorder, Spinal Muscle Atrophy (SMA) affects the nervous system, particularly attacking the part which is the control center for voluntary movement of muscles. The nerve cells that are located in the spinal cord are largely affected, thereby making a lot of difference to the muscles. It is a rare disorder and is approximately found in 1 out of every 6,000 to 1 out of every 10,000 people in the world. It attacks the specialized nerve cells, which are commonly known as lower motor neurons, eventually leading to the death of muscle cells. SMA is divided based on the severity and the onset of the disease. Discussed below are the main types of Spinal Muscle Atrophy: SMA Type 0 This particular type of SMA is known to be the most severe of all types of Spinal Muscle Atrophy. Babies with this type of SMA often suffer from severe muscle weakness, low muscle tone, and a lack of age-appropriate motor skills. In addition, these babies may have an absence of a healthy respiratory system and therefore, face a lot of respiratory problems. Very few newborns survive post six months from their birth in this case. SMA Type 1 Also referred to as Werdnig-Hoffman Disease, this particular type of SMA is considered to be the most common.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatments include many different approaches and various measures that may be tried in order to achieve beneficial results. The course of the treatment is charted out only after considering the severity and the stage that the cancer has spread to and hence a radiation oncologist, a medical oncologist, a physician, and a surgeon may all need to work in unison to provide the sufferer with the best results. Discussed below are stage-wise treatment options for Treatment of Stage 0 NSCLC Stage 0 non-small cell lung cancer may not require one to go beyond a surgery. The reason for this is that it affects the airways and, in this stage, it does not spread much deeper than these airways. One may not require any chemotherapy or any sort of radiotherapy to go along with this lung cancer treatment. If cancer has not really aggravated much, then the doctor may ask to opt for a wedge resection or a segmentectomy. Treatment of Stage 1 NSCLC Much like Stage 0 NSCLC, Stage 1 NSCLC would only require a surgical procedure. This may be done in two ways—either the lobe that has the tumor may be removed or the smaller part of the lung may be removed.

There are various lifestyle disorders that can grapple us at any moment and with a balanced diet, we can surely keep all those diseases at bay. However, there are certain foods that are known to help the body heal in better ways than others. The healing properties of these superfoods make them worth including in your diet. Here are some of the top superfoods based on the different diseases that they combat: Superfoods to prevent cancer Cancer is easily one of the most dreaded disorders. In order to reduce the risk of getting cancer, you may start the process simply by having the following items in your kitchen: Broccoli Most cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, kale, and cauliflower are said to have cancer-fighting properties. However, broccoli contains maximum sulforaphane, which promotes the growth of protective enzymes in the body, in turn helping flush out chemicals that may cause cancer. Tomatoes Tomatoes are known to be a great source of a carotenoid known as lycopene which is said to prevent the growth of endometrial cancer cells. Since this particular type of cell is responsible for causing around 8,000 deaths a year, consuming tomatoes on a regular basis would definitely help you avoid it.

Prostate cancer only affects men. While there is no fixed cause of this form of cancer, it is attributed to a problem in the DNA of the prostate’s healthy cells. While there are many treatments for prostate cancer available, one needs to keep in mind that some risk factors which could cause a man to develop this cancer in the first place. They are as follows: Age: Men below 40 years of age rarely face prostate cancer. The chance of developing this particular type of cancer rises much faster after men hit their fifties. Race: Studies suggest that men of African-American descent are more prone to developing prostate cancer as compared to their counterparts. Men of this descent should undertake regular prostate cancer screening to ensure that they take preventive measures on time. Location: Some geographical regions report high cases of prostate cancer as compared to other regions of the world. For example, North America, Australia, and the Caribbean Islands report more cases of this particular type of cancer than Africa, Asia, South America, and Central America. Family history: Various types of cancers are genetic or inherited, which means that they run in families for generations. If a man has a family history of this disease, then he must undergo regular screenings to be safe.

Millions of Americans struggle with drug addiction and alcoholism. However, those ready to make a change and control over their lives often commit to a rehabilitation program that works towards helping you move past harmful addictions. The first step towards any recovery is acknowledging that there is a problem, and approaching a mental health professional or a doctor to seek help. Alcohol rehab centers operate on the assumption that displaying a willingness to change and keeping up with the rigors of any rehabilitation program will help you achieve your goal over a period of time. Most drug and alcohol treatment programs follow these steps to recovery: Detoxification Detoxification is the first step in the treatment program and medicines may be incorporated to help diminish cravings. This may be an unpleasant time as the body works towards flushing out the addictive substance and physiological effects or the withdrawal symptoms may occur. These also aim to address the social and behavioral issues that come with addiction over the long term. Long-term residential treatment This model employs the use of long-term care in a non-hospital setting and makes use of the concept of Therapeutic Community (TC) to help patients confront their addition. These programs usually involve around the clock care and monitoring by trained staff as part of the recovery process.

Immunotherapy is a form of treatment that works by either activating or suppressing the immune system response to a health crisis. In cancer treatment, immunotherapy works by activating the immune system response to malignant cells. The treatment helps target immune system response to specific cancer cells to destroy them while sparing healthy cells in the body. Some types of immunotherapy are known as biotherapy. The immune system is a defense system that comprises a group of organs and cells in the body. These work together to protect the body from invasion by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that may make you seriously ill. When an infection hits the body, the immune system sends a response in the form of an inflammation. This inflammation is caused by cellular proteins called interleukins and interferons that send signals to white blood cells which are responsible for defending the body against illnesses. In the case of cancer patients, it was discovered that certain proteins in cancerous cells blocked the immune system’s ability to identify malignant cells. Thus, the immune system could not work as well as it should because it could not distinguish between healthy body cells and fast-growing malignant cells. This gave rise to research that opened up cancer treatment from immunology.

No doubt you’ve heard a friend, coworker, or family member talking about the keto diet, or more precisely the ketogenic diet. This diet focuses on restriction of carbohydrates with concentration on high-fat and protein-rich foods in order to put the body in a state of ketosis, or fat burning versus carbohydrate burning mode. Keto was primarily employed to treat refractory epilepsy in children. However, many dieters have found success with fat loss using low carb diets, similar to the Atkins diet, for weight loss. Keep in mind that keto, like many diets, has several negative side effects (i.e., kidney stones, constipation, high cholesterol, and acidosis). There are several dos and don’ts of the ketogenic diet, including: 1. Meat The first one of the keto foods that you can have is meats that have not been processed. This is because this meat is not going to have a lot of carbohydrates in them and more than likely, the cows will be only feed grass. Therefore, it will be a lot healthier for you. But it is very important to remember that this diet is high in fat without a lot of protein, so you don’t need to eat a lot of meat.

Amyloidosis is classified as a rare condition that develops when amyloid protein (a bodily substance) produced in the bone marrow, builds up in damaging deposits around specific organs (i.e., spleen, digestive system, heart, kidneys, liver, and nervous system). Amyloidosis may be hereditary (familial amyloidosis), inflammatory (secondary amyloidosis), immune (AL amyloidosis), or disease (i.e., kidney dialysis) related in nature. Symptoms differ depending on the exact organ affected, but if left untreated, amyloidosis may lead to organ failure. The following treatments for amyloidosis won’t cure the disease outright, but are meant to reduce amyloid protein production: 1. Autologous blood stem cell transplant An early stage treatment for amyloidosis may include autologous blood stem cell transplant, or ASCT. This treatment is used during chemotherapy. It aims to collect and store stem cells from the blood so they are protected during a high-dose round of chemo. After treatment, stem cells are re-infused by vein. 2. Chemotherapy For immune-related amyloidosis, or AL amyloidosis, many patients undergo chemotherapy. This treatment injects medications (by oral pill or intravenously) in order to impede the growth and collection of amyloid protein. 3. Treatment changes When amyloidosis (i.e., dialysis-related amyloidosis) is related to an underlying health issue, such as with kidney disease in patients undergoing dialysis, the best course of treatment may be switching up the dialysis mode to a new form (i.e., hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, intestinal dialysis, hemodiafiltration, or hemofiltration) or undergoing full kidney transplant.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension, or PAH, is a serious and even potentially fatal condition that causes high blood pressure buildup in the pulmonary arteries that connect the lungs to the heart. As these arteries progressively narrow and become blocked, blood transport is limited, the heart muscle is stressed and weakened, and the risk of heart failure increases. If left untreated, PAH leads to more damage and more risk of heart failure over time. Consider the following risk factors for pulmonary arterial hypertension: 1. Sleep apnea Research conducted by the American College of Chest Physicians estimates that over 50% of individuals who suffer with sleep apnea will develop pulmonary arterial hypertension. The risk with sleep apnea can be traced back to breathing lapses during sleep, or hypoxia, which may lead to damage to blood vessels and high blood pressure buildup in the pulmonary arteries. 2. Age and gender While pulmonary arterial hypertension affects both men and women of all ages, studies show that around 20% of PAH patients tend to be women in middle age with a history of congenital heart disease. 3. Stimulant drug abuse Several types of stimulant drugs—including cocaine and methamphetamine are considered risk factors for the development of PAH.

Diabetes happens when the body cannot produce insulin. It causes abnormal levels of carbohydrates along with raised amounts of glucose in the blood and urine. Dizziness is an early sign that someone may have diabetes or diabetic neuropathy. After being diagnosed with diabetes, there are things that can also cause dizziness. When diagnosed as a diabetic lifestyle changes must take place. The proper diet and plenty of exercise are important. Taking the medications according to the doctor’s instructions will help keep the blood sugar at the proper level. This will help prevent dizziness. It is also important to listen to the doctor in order to prevent diabetic neuropathy, which is nerve damage caused by diabetes. Diabetes dizziness may be a sign that something is not right, such as: 1. High blood pressure It is common for diabetics to have high blood pressure. When the blood pressure rises dizziness can occur. High blood pressure can be caused by eating too much fat, salt, and sugar. Therefore, a proper diet is very important. While high blood pressure is more common in diabetics low blood pressure can also happen. This too can cause dizziness. 2. Side effects of some medications Some diabetic and cardiovascular medications have dizziness listed as a side effect.